PeopleSoft customers learning to love Oracle

Says Oracle man...

PeopleSoft customers are getting more comfortable with the idea of an Oracle takeover - at least they are according to Oracle's co-president Charles Phillips.

Speaking at the opening of Oracle's customer jamboree OpenWorld in San Francisco Phillips said: "A lot of opinion of this deal has changed. We're reaching out to these customers. They've gotten a lot more comfortable about it.", according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Some observers fear that uncertainty created by the takeover, or the fight over the takeover, would push customers to other vendors. More here.

In other news Oracle said it hopes to hold onto as many former JD Edwards developers as possible. PeopleSoft bought JD Edwards in June last year.

Safra Catz, co-president of Oracle, said: "One reason we've been in a hurry is we've been concerned about the state of the J.D. Edwards intellectual properties. We are hearing about a lot of J.D. Edwards resumes on the street - people being let go by PeopleSoft. And we want to maintain as many folks as we can." According to CRN, Oracle wants to keep as many developers as possible and will keep offices in Pleasanton, California - PeopleSoft's HQ. Catz says Oracle is committed to supporting PeopleSoft apps for ten years - but the countdown for that grace period began when it launched its takeover bid last year.

Oracle is determined to keep customers happy and pledged to "oversupport" them to achieve this. Catz said: "Our number one goal is to maintain the customer base...We need to spend as much as SAP(on research and development)...A large customer base is the only way to do it," Reuters reports.

The hostile takeover is currently on hold while a Delaware court decides whether to remove the "poison pill" clauses PeopleSoft is using to prevent Oracle taking control of the firm. A decision is expected in January. ®